District 211 tabs foundation member for board vacancy

Richard Gerber, a member of the Palatine-Schaumburg High School District 211's charity foundation, will fill the district's vacant board seat.

The board unanimously voted for the appointment of Gerber as its newest member during their Thursday meeting. They picked Gerber, a Schaumburg resident since 1988, from eight applicants.

Gerber talked about meeting with Associate Superintendent for Business David Torres and discussing the complicated budget. He said he's ready to absorb all of what his fellow board members and district staff have to offer.

“There's a lot to learn, Gerber said. “That's my first priority.

Gerber, 52, fills the seat left vacant after the death of 44-year-old Theresa Tracy on Sept. 3. The board appointed Tracy to the seat in March 2009 after cancer claimed the life of former board member and longtime Hoffman Estates village trustee Susan Kenley-Rupnow. She was 58.

Gerber is a real estate agent who works for RE/MAX in Schaumburg.

He's known for organizing the Timbercrest/Woods Neighborhood Garage Sale each summer. He has two children enrolled at Schaumburg High School.

Gerber graduated in 1981 with a bachelor's degree in math from the University of Wisconsin at Stevens Point. He said he'll use his business background to help the district.

“District 211 is a tremendous school district, he said.

Gerber will assume the unexpired term that ends in April. Four of the seven seats on the District 211 board are up for election next year. George Brandt, Lynn Davis and Debra Strauss are also up for re-election. He said he intends to run in April and stay on the board.

Gerber said he interviewed for the board vacancy in 2009 before Tracy was appointed. He began attending meetings with the thought he would eventually run for election.

Gerber's community activity includes involvement with girls youth basketball and Schaumburg traveling soccer. He's a member of Schaumburg High School's booster club and joined the District 211 Foundation board of trustees in July. Board President Robert LeFevre said the board was happy with the credentials of all applicants, which they interviewed from Oct. 4 to Oct. 7.

“It is a truly a reflection of the communities that we serve that District 211 has such outstanding community members willing to step forward to be involved in the educational system, LeFevre said.

LeFevre called Gerber's appointment a “tough decision and said the board was confident in Gerber's dedication to the district.

Superintendent Nancy Robb said Gerber is known in the district as “an advocate for education.

“I look forward to working with you, Robb said to Gerber.